Vaccination involves:

Vaccination is a form of active immunization where the body is injected with materials, such as weakened or killed pathogens or their parts, to stimulate the immune system [6]. These materials, known as antigens, train the immune system to recognize and attack specific harmful germs by producing antibodies and memory cells [6]. Unlike passive immunization, which involves the direct injection of pre-formed antibodies (such as monoclonal antibodies) for immediate but short-lived protection, vaccination induces the body to actively generate its own long-term defense [1]. While mRNA vaccines may cause the body to produce antigens internally to trigger this response, the ultimate goal of all vaccination is the stimulation of antibody production and immune memory [6]. Antibiotics, conversely, are medicines used to kill bacteria during an active infection and do not provide immunity [4].

Sources

1. [4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1740677304000543
2. [6] https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/basics/explaining-how-vaccines-work.html
3. [2] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > 3.5.1 Treatment of diseases > p. 39
4. [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > Ability of the body to fight diseases > p. 37
5. [3] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Health: The Ultimate Treasure > Snapshots > p. 42